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United States Patent OVEN Eric W. Nagel, St. Louis County, Raymond R. Tucker, St.

Louis, and Ray Shank, Jr., St. Louis County, Mo., assignors to Wrought Iron Range Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation Application January 14, 1952, Serial No. 266,398

6 Claims. (Cl. 126-1) This invention relates to ovens and has particular application to those ovens of the character commonly found in coal and wood ranges in which a fire box is ar- Ranges of this character are also adapted to use liquid fuels and gas, and the use of such fuels in connection with ovens of this invention is contemplated.

Generally, in range ovens known heretofore the radiant heat from the heated walls of the oven was relied upon principally to do the cooking of the'food. The temperature within the oven was not uniform throughout the oven. In those range ovens the results obtained were dependent in large measure upon the position of the food within the oven. As a practical matter is has not been possible to use more than one shelf in such an oven. Furthermore, in ranges in which wood or coal was used the radiant heat from the hottest of the walls, the chief source of heat, was necessarily extremely variable. The nature of a wood or soft coal fire is such as to make the maintenance of a constant heat in the fire box practically impossibe. The cook had there fore to stay close to the range, since, if the fire should begin burning briskly, the direct radiant heat from the hot wallsiwould burn the food in the oven, or at least burn the side of the food toward the hottest wall.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an oven throughout the interior of which a uniform temperature is produced. Another object is to provide such an oven which is quick heating, but capable of maintaining a relatively constant temperature as compared with ovens known heretofore. Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following disclosure and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, the effect of radiant heat from the walls of the oven on the contents of the oven is strongly reduced, and controlled convection currents are set up to produce a uniform temperature throughout the oven.

In particular, when a vertical wall of the oven is strongly heated, a baffie is provided within the oven, overlying that wall through substantially the full width of the wall but being spaced therefrom, to form a channel between the wall and the bafile. The channel may communicate directly with the interior of the oven along the top or bottom wall thereof. In the former case, the channel communicates along its lowest edge with a conduit which in turn communicates with the interior of the oven in an area the positioning of which determines in large part the circulation pattern of the oven atmosphere: Generally, the conduit opens toward the front of the oven, since the greatest heat loss occurs in that area. When (as in the first illustrative embodiment described hereafter) the oven bottom is also heated, the conduit may take the form of an overlying plate. When the channel communicates with the interior'of the oven edge with a conduit.

When a horizontal (top or bottom) wall is strongly heated, a channel-forming baflie may still be employed to shield the interior of the oven from the radiant heat, and to produce circulation of the oven atmosphere. In such an arrangement, however, at least one of the channel-defining members (the wall or the baffie) must be inclined from the horizontal. By inclining such a channel-defining surface so that it rises toward the front of the oven and by making the channel communicate at its upper edge with the interior of the oven, the circulation of the oven atmosphere can be brought forward to serve the purpose of the conduit of the oven in which a vertical wall is strongly heated.

The circulation produced by inclining one of the horizontal channel-defining members is not as vigorous as that obtained by the strongly heated vertical wall. Various combinations of the two may be used to good efiect. For example, an inclined top wall (heated or unheated) with or without an overlying plate or bafiie may be used to distribute the heated air from a strongly heated ver tical wall.

A plurality-of the baflles described, spaced from one another to form auxiliary channels between adjacent baffles, may be used.

Whether a single baffle or a plurality of bafiies be employed, the members forming the baflles may be so constructed as to allow the bafiies to be rendered selectively inoperative, when that condition is desired. With this arrangement, quick heating of the oven may be accomplished by direct radiation from the unshielded strongly heated wall until the desired temperature within the oven has been reached. The members can then be made to operate as baffies to provide for a uniform distribution of heat within the oven by convection and at the same time to protect the contents of the oven from the direct radiation of the strongly heated wall.

In the drawings: 1

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a range constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the mechanism of Figure 4 in a different position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of a bathe-forming louvre;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the louvre shown in Figure 7; a

Figure 9 is a plan view of a conduit-forming plate; and

Figures l020 are somewhat diagrammatic illustrations of different illustrative embodiments of this invention.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the interior of the oven showing an embodiment wherein a vertical baffie connects along its upper edge with a top baflie having a hole near its front edge; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the interior of the oven showing still another embodiment, wherein the vertical baflie is upwardly convergently inclined with respect to the side wall along which it extends.

a partition '3 separates the fire box 2 from a verticalside wall 5 of an oven-6. Theoven 6 is made up of' the "hot Patented Mar. 13, .1956" side wall '5, a bottom 10, .a top 18, a back wall 19, a cold side wall 20, and a door 21. The partition 3 is spaced from the side wall 5 to form a passage 8. Beneath the bottom 19 of the oven 6 is a passage 12 leading to a flue 14 as shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment the top 18, the back wall 19 and the remaining side wall 20 are insulated on their outside surfaces. It can be seen that the wall 5, being the first of the oven surfaces reached by the gases from the fire box 2 and by any radiant heat from the partition 3 will be the hottest of the oven surfaces.

Within the oven 6 an inner baffle extends along the hot wall 5 but is spaced therefrom. An outer baffle 26 extends along the inner baflle 25 and is spaced therefrom as inner batfieZS is spaced from the side wall 5. Both inner baffie 2S and outer baffle 26 are made up of a series of vertical louvres 27 pivoted, by means of hinge pins 28, at their forward edges 29 in upper brackets 30 and lower brackets 31. Each of the louvres 27 has an car 33 extending at right angles to the louvre from its upper edge. A vertical pin 32 projects upwardly from each of the cars 33. A flat strap 35 of band iron, bored to take loosely the vertical pins 32, connects all of the louvres 27 in each of the baffles 25 and 26. The straps 35 above the bafiles 25 and 26 are interconnected by means of a forward saddle 37 and a rear saddle 39, which are welded or otherwise secured to straps 35. A pivot pin 38 is secured to the forward saddle 37. In the embodiment shown the forward saddle 37 is connected with a control handle 48, positioned outside the oven, through a system of links and levers. A shaft 41 to which the handle is secured carries a crank 42. The crank 42 carries a link 43 pivotally mounted in a lever 44 attached to a shaft 45. A lower lever 46 is secured to the shaft and carries a link 47 which pivotally engages the pivot pin 38 of saddle 37. As shown in Figure 3 the louvres 27 do not extend through the full depth of the oven. The baifles 25 and 26 terminate at the inside faces of posts 50 which also serve to support the upper brackets 39 below the oven top 13, and the lower bracket 31 above the oven bottom 1%. Rack slides 51, 52 and 54 are fastened to the posts 50. Corresponding rack slides are secured to the side wall 20 of the oven.

The lowermost rack slide 54 is positioned tight against the lower bracket 31, and is provided along its lower edge with a flange 55. The corresponding rack slide on the side wall 20 is also provided with a flange. Supported by the flanges, is a plate 15, in which is a hole 16. The plate 15 is spaced above the bottom 10 and extends over the entire bottom between the outer baflie 26 and the side wall 20. The hole 16 is positioned toward the front of the oven, as shown in Figure 3. The plate 15 defines, with the bottom 10, a conduit 17, communicating with the channels formed by baffles 25 and 26 through the full width of those bafiles, and communieating with the interior of the oven through the hole 16.

The door 21 forms the front wall of the oven. A thermometer 53 on the front face of the range indicates the temperature within the oven.

In operation, when a fire is started in the fire box 2 the handle 69 is turned clockwise to rock the crank 42 which, acting through the link 43 and the lever 44, rotates the shaft 45. The rotation of the shaft 45 rocks the lever 46 which, acting through the link 37, moves the saddle 37, and with it the straps 3S, forwardly. The forward movement of the straps 35, acting on the pins 32 and the cars 33 swings the louvres about the hinge pins 28 to a position at which the louvres are at right angles to the hot side wall 5. In this position the louvres 27 no longer function as battles between the hot wall 5 and the interior of the oven so that the radiant heat from the hot wall 5 is free to penetrate the oven, quickly raising the temperature thereof. When the oven has heated to approximately the desired temperature as indicated by the thermometer 53, handle 40 is given a turn in a counter-clockwise direction which, acting through the various links and levers, moves the straps 35 rearwardly, swinging the louvres about the hinge pins 28 to a position parallel with the hot wall 5 and in contact with one another to form a pair of substantially solid baffles, shielding the interior of the oven from the direct radiant heat of the hot wall. Since the outside of the back wall 19, the top 18 and the side wall 20 are not heated, and since the hot wall 5 is the most strongly heated surface in the oven, the baflles 2S and 26 produce a stack cflect so that the gases of the atmosphere of the oven are drawn through the hole 16, along the heated bottom 10 in the conduit 17, through the channels formed between the baffle 25 and the hot side wall 5 and between the baflles 25 and 26, and are discharged immediately under the top 18 to provide a uniform distribution of heat by convection throughout the oven. The positioning of the hole 16 toward the front of the oven brings the hot gases of the oven close to the oven door, where, generally, the heat loss is greatest. However, the position of the hole 16 may be varied to supply any particular area with heat. It can be seen that the arrangement can be used to produce overheating with respect to the rest of the oven of a particular zone, if such a result were desired.

Where uniform results are desired, in ovens constructed in accordance with this invention, uniform results are obtained on each of the racks provided and at any position in the oven on those racks.

Numerous variations in construction of the illustrative embodiment of this invention described above will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing. For example horizontal louvres may be used, or a pair of slotted plates, movable relative to one another may be used to accomplish the function of the vertical louvres described, although the vertical louvres described are preferred. A solid baffle removable from the oven entirely, as by being slidably mounted in horizontal grooves, or a baflie which is hinged at the bottom and which may be swung into place, are among other variations possible. With those types of baffles, such as the louvres described, which admit of thermostatic control, such a control may be arranged to move the baflies into operative position when the heat in the oven reaches a given temperature, to eliminate the need for manual operation. As shown in the drawing, the baffles in the illustrative embodiment are in parallel spaced relationship with the vertical wall and with one another. While it has been found that the provision of more than one baflle produces superior results to the use of only a single baffle, both in reducing the effect of radiation from the hot wall 5 and in providing a more thorough mixing of the ovens atmosphere, a single batfle is also contemplated. Also, while the provision of an apparatus wherein the baffle is rendered in operative to allow for a rapid heating up of the oven has clear advantages, the provision of a fixed baffle is also contemplated. Various other arrangements are contemplated, such, for example, as a divergence of the baffles toward the bottom of the oven, to provide a funnel effect. Such an arrangement is shown more or less diagrammatically in Figure 11. By funnel effect is meant the acceleration of the gases as they pass through the restricted outlet, forming a jet of hot gases and creating a certain turbulence in the atmosphere of the oven, tending to uniformity of heat distribution therein. When oil or a fuel of less intense heat is used in the fire box of the range of the embodiment described the partition between the fire box and outside of the side wall 5 may be removed.

The shielding of the ovens interior by the baflle or baffles from the radiant heat from the hot side wall minimizes the effect on the contents of the oven of hot spots" on that side wall, and of temporary changes in temperature of that wall upon firing up with or blazing up of the fuel in the fire box. At the same time, the circulation of gases within the oven allows an efiicient transfer of heat from the products of combustion, so that the flue gases are not appreciably hotter in the described embodiment where but two oven surfaces are exposed directly than in the ranges known heretofore in which four sides were heated, while the insulation of the top, back and one side wall cutsheat loss to the room.

When the bafllle along a vertical wall is arranged to communicate directly with the interior of the oven along its lower edge, and a plate similar to the plate 15 of the preferred embodiment described is arranged along the top of the oven to form a conduit therewith, the heated air from the channel between the vertical bafile and the side wall is discharged through the hole in the plate in wall of said oven and forming a conduit therewith, said plate being provided with an opening of substantial area as compared with the area of said plate, said opening being located immediately adjacent and substantially midway of the width of the door of said oven; and a baffle within the oven extending along and spaced from the side wall along which the side wall flue passage extends, said baflle forming a conduit with said side wall, said conduit communicating at the lower edge of said battle with the conduit formed by the plate and bottom wall, and communicating at the upper edge of said bafiie with the interior of the oven.

3. The oven of claim 1 wherein the baflie is made up 1 of a plurality of louvers pivoted for movement between the forepart of the oven to produce a distribution pat- I tern similar to that obtained when the plate overlies the bottom. This arrangement is shown more or less diagrammatically in Figure 10.

A plurality of bafiies as described and illustrated in connection with the first embodiment described in detail may be used with any of the other embodiments described. So also may provision be made for rendering the battles of the further embodiments selectively inoperative as baffles.

Numerous combinations of the various embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing description.

Thus it can be seen that a simple but eifective apparatus has been provided for making uniform the temperature within an oven and, at the same time, for quickly heating the oven, and for maintaining a relatively constant temperature therein.

Having thus described our invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An oven, having a front door, top, bottom, back and side walls; a fire box along one of said side walls and arranged to heat said side wall more strongly than the remaining walls; a plate overlying the said bottom wall and forming a conduit therewith, said plate being provided with an opening of substantial area as compared with the area of said plate, said opening being located immediately adjacent and substantially midway of the width of the door of said oven; and a baflle extending along and spaced from the more strongly heated side wall to form a conduit therewith, said conduit communicating at the lower edge of said bafiie with the conduit formed by the plate and bottom wall, and at the upper edge of said bafiie, with the interior of the oven.

2. A range having an oven, said oven having a front door, and top, bottom, back and side walls; a fire box along one side of said oven and spaced therefrom to provide a side flue passage communicating directly with said fire box at its upper end and at its lower end with a bottom flue passage extending beneath the bottom wall of a position at which they form the baflie and a position at substantially right angles to the side wall to expose the side wall to the interior of the oven.

4. The oven of claim 3 wherein the louvers are arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows.

5. An oven having a front door, substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and substantially vertical side walls; a fire box along one of said side walls and arranged to heat said side wall more strongly than the remaining walls; a baffle extending along and spaced from said strongly heated side wall to define a vertical conduit therewith; and a plate extending along and spaced from a horizontal wall to define a conduit therewith, said plate being provided with an opening of substantial area as compared with the area of said plate, said opening being located immediately adjacent and substantially midway of the width of the front door of said oven, and said vertical conduit communicating at one end with the interior of the oven, and at its other end with the conduit defined by the plate and the horizontal wall.

6. The oven of claim 5 wherein the baffle and strongly heated side wall are convergently inclined with respect to one another in an upward direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,347 Mott May 7, 1850 35,962 Walker July 22, 1862 58,705 Wilson Oct. 9, 1866 108,410 Traver Oct. 18, 1870 838,270 Peters Dec. 1, 1906 856,313 Terrell June 11, 1907 1,138,622 Brandenburg et al May 11, 1915 1,830,063 Jungers Nov. 3, 1931 1,932,182 Hogan Oct. 24, 1933 1,955,884 Lange Apr. 24, 1934 2,180,068 Scott Nov. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 82,133 Switzerland Dec. 4, 1934 58,468 Norway Oct. 4, 1937 108,985 Australia Nov. 16, 1939 

